Monday, April 29, 2013

It won't quite suffice to say that Ajay Jain is a leading travel writer and
photographer, 'coz he wears a few more hats - that of an author, a
journalist, a blogger and the owner of Kunzum Cafe, located at the picturesque Hauz Khas
Village, in Delhi.

So, besides having a lot of time to travel, click photographs
and pen travelogues, Ajay also finds ample time to pen books, one of which is
the pictorial delight: Postcards from Ladakh.

Ladakh means 'Land of high passes'. La means 'Pass' in
Tibetan.

And Ladakh
never ceases to fascinate, right? It can be an endless lifelong journey
and a truly enriching one at that. It's an amazing land. It's a land of
beautiful mountains and blue water lakes.

Postcards from Ladakh is a pictorial travelogue on
Ladakh intended to give readers a flavour of what Ladakh truly is... based on
Ajay's 10,000 km journey across the region (circa 2009).

10,000 km. Imagine !!

And
though the blurb suggests that the book is neither a "guidebook nor
encyclopedia", I would say that it is a bit of both, besides being a handy
and colourful introduction to the people, life and terrain... in all its stark
beauty. Ajay's writing style is unique, since he combines snippets of history, sights
and sounds with culture, cuisine, lakes, wildlife, observations and anecdotes,
and then tops it up with a whole bunch of high-quality colourful photographs. This
he then serves with a dash of humour.

Result? I
have already slow read Postcards from Ladakh twice... and will do so
again, lingering over every photograph. 'Coz it kinda grows on you.

... Nourishing your romance with this beautiful and serene
region, where a cup of tea, a hot meal and a room are always available for
visitors. And where a bunch of happy little children spontaneously walk up to a
complete stranger... wanting to share their bounty of freshly plucked peas,
expecting nothing in return.

If that
is not contentment, what is?!

And one
comes across butter tea. Am curious to know what it is though.

'Tibet' is Sanskrit 'Tripishtaka' or
'Trivistaka', meaning the supposed land of the Devas to the north of the
Himalayas. Deva does not mean god or even demi-god. These were an ancient clan
of people that inhabited vast tracts of land along the Himalayan ranges. They had their
own 'way of life'; they were Aryan or noble-natured and were ruled by the Devaraj
Indra - very likely a title for the king or chief of the Deva people.

Yours truly first heard of Tibet when she
was little... thanks to Tintin in Tibet.

This
place is also the source of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers, which merge to become
the Chandrabhaga and flow on as the Chenab. [Chenab was Chandrabhaga during the
Vedic period.] And just as the River Ganga (Ganga
Nadi) emerges from a mountain snout that is shaped like the mouth of a cow, the
once-mighty River Indus/Sindhu Nad, it is said, originates from the
mouth of a lion in Manasarovar, in Tibet. Thus it is also called Sengge Tsangpo
or Lion River. (Sengge is nothing but a variant of Singha, meaning lion).
This river is a common lifeline, and symbolically binds the people of more than
one nation. Few rivers in the world flows through as stunning a landscape as
the Sindhu Nad; it flows through plains, villages, hamlets and towns, as well
as by valleys, gorges and peaks of countless hues before flowing into the
Sindhu Sagar (which has - for some reason - come to be known as the A. Sea).

One comes
across several monasteries and Gompas (possibly Ladakhi for Gufa, a place of
solitude, of meditational retreats); the names are difficult to remember,
tongue-twisting even. But the pictures of the smiling lamas (monks) - including
the mischievous boy-lamas and nuns, accompanying the narrative - are enough to
put a smile to your face.

Despite the
starkness of the region, the prayers and the chanting, they rarely look
austere. In fact, their antics - puckering their lips, sucking in their cheeks,
widening their eyes, putting out their tongues, pulling each other's ears or
indulging in friendly banter... makes it seem as though being a lama is the most
un-sober thing in the world!! One still gets to meet lamas as young as four
years. Young lamas have the option to leave the order, but most stay on for
life. Not that they must renounce the world completely. They can visit their
families, who treat them not as sons but as lamas. Lamas can listen to music,
watch movies, own cell-phones and cameras; dine out - but always in their
robes. It's all fine... as long as they do not obsess with worldly pleasures. What
a simple solution! Literally: the Middle Way or the Middle Path. :) The younger lamas even play cricket with a stick and pebbles! [Perhaps,
a Ladakhi version of our ubiquitous gilli-danda, what?] An account of their
practice session - as part of their preparations for their festival - was fun
to read... 'coz most dancers possessed two left feet; they attempted to dance and
twirl under the guidance of a 71-year-old lama. Their fun side is infectious,
indeed.

There is
the Hemis Gompa, now Ladakh's most revered and largest monastery... nestled amidst
towering mountains, thus assuring its monks uninterrupted solitude. In the 13th
century Buddhist sage Gyalwa Gotsangpa zeroed in on this lofty, secluded and secure
location for Hemis Gompa. It is inspired by a Vulture's Nest. [Gotsangpa means
vulture's nest; Got = 'vulture' and Tsang = 'nest'.]

Was Gyalwa
Gotsangpa a modern-day descendent of the ancient Shakuna people who werea vulture (or perhaps a Bald Eagle)-worshipping/totem-bearing
clan? Think of Jatayu and his brother Sampati - from the Ramayana. Think of Shakuntala - raised under the care of the Shakuna. The Shakuna
were an offshoot of the Suparna - an eagle or falcon-worshiping clan, i.e.a clan
with an eagle or falcon-totem - to which Shri Garuda belonged.

Well, what do you think?

Hemis - as seen today - was founded in the 1630s by Kushok
Shambhu Nath (the first Stagsang Respa) under the patronage of King Sengye
Namgyal (regarded as Ladakh's greatest king; Sengye is a variant of Singha,
meaning: lion). After 1730, Stagsang's third incarnation, Gyalsey Rinpoche not
only added shrines, stupas, scriptures and murals, but also founded the Hemis
Festival (Hemis Tsechu) - to commemorate Guru Padmasambhava's birth. Hemis is
the headquarters of Buddhism's Drupka lineage, which most Ladakhis follow.

In the 9th
century, the rise of Buddhism at the expense of the Bon religion provoked
Langdarma, Tibet's Bon king, into persecuting Buddhists. Monks were disrobed,
monasteries dismantled. Result? The powerful monk Palji Dorge came dancing to
Lhasa dressed in a wide-brimmed black hat, high boots and brocade costume, and
pierced the king's heart with an arrow. Hemis Festival opens with an act by 13
dancers dressed like Palji Dorge. Supposedly endowed with spiritual powers,
they symbolically ward off any evil spirits that might hinder the festival. The
dancers flourish sacred items like daggers, spears, bells, vajras (dorjes),
skulls and damrus (small two-headed drums).

BTW,
Shambhu Nath is one of the many names of Shiv (one of the many Shivs that
people our ancient history or pracheen itihasa, that is). Skulls,
damrus... the symbolism are unmistakable, is it not? But which of the Shambhu Naths
is responsible for Shambhala - the fabulous Buddhist Pure Land or mythical
kingdom hidden somewhere in Inner Asia? My guess is as good as yours. Shambhala
(ruled over by Lord Maitreya) is mentioned in various ancient texts, including
the Kalachakra Tantra + other texts that predate Tibetan Buddhism in western
Tibet.

Is the Buddhist myth of Shambhala an adaptation from our
ancient texts such as the Mahabharata and the Puranas? Is it an extension or
adaptation of "sambhavami yuge yuge"?

... Well, my guess
is as good as yours.

Was Ladakh's greatestKing Sengye Namgyal a
modern-day descendant of the ancient 'lion people': the Kimpurusha, the
Kirata or the Kinnara (as depicted by the 4th 'avatar' of the "Dasavatar"
- the Nrisingha or the Narasimha Avatar)?

Was ancient Tibet, Ladakh and
surrounding areas the cradle of civilization? Did the ancient denizens of these
areas have some links or ties with the ancient denizens of the Sarasvati
Civilization? Did they together constitute the Sindhu-Sarasvati Sabhyata?

Well, what do you think?

Is Padmasambhava a variant of
Shri Vishnu who is also known as Padmanabha?

What say you?

The
longest and most interesting dance at Hemis Festival depicts the eight forms of
Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche, who (according to the author) established
Buddhism as the core religion of Tibet and Ladakh in the 8th
century. Eight masked lamas denote the eight forms of Padmasambhava.

[However, it was the
renowned Buddhist teacher and Pandit - Dipankar Srigyan (Atiśa Dipankara,
Shrijnana) - who set out from a village called Bajrajogini (in Bikram Pur) near
Dhaka to spread Bhagavan Shri Gautam Buddh's message - in the whole of
Tibet. ... Andsucceeded too. Atiśa was a revered figure in his homeland as well.]

Invaders
plundered many monasteries in Ladakh over the centuries. However the one at
Chemde, or Chemrey stayed safe. Here's a tale worth telling.

Apparently
the Mongols laid siege on Chemde in the late 17th century. But being
outnumbered didn't stop the head lama from outsmarting them. From afar, he shot
the Mongol king's teacup with a rifle. Stunned, the king thought Goddess Kali
ruled over the Gompa and made peace with the monks. A temple to Kali stands at
the base of the hill on which Chemde nestles.

Stagsang
Respa founded this impressive gompa, Hemis' most important branch.

There are
several interesting anecdotes including about 'flying lamas', though folks have
yet to meet any lama who's actually logged some miles in the air. The author is
quite a raconteur, must say. [However, the stories about 'flying lamas'
probably is a much-corruptedmodern-day version of ancient vimanas or aircraft. This region and
its surroundings is well known for having been the landing site of ancient
vimanas.]

Postcards
from Ladakh contains snippets about: the statues of Padmasambhava's eight
manifestations, the famed oracles of Matho, marble statues of
Avalokitesvara (Tibet's patron saint of compassion); Tibetan thangka
paintings - illustrating Tibetan Buddhism and art, manis - large prayer
wheels that one sees all over Ladakh; mask dances and Zanskar, rock
engravings of the five Dhyani Buddhas, 8 m high statue of a seated Sakyamuni; a
histrionically inclined tourist guide, the Ladakh Marathon, archery contest, healthiest
looking vegetables; images and statues of the Maitreya (the future Buddha) and
Manjushri, murals of Prajnaparamita ('Goddess of the Perfection of Wisdom'), Je
Tsongkhapa - regarded by many as the second Buddha; alaks ('precious
lamas'); Tso Moriri - an unending expanse of sheer azure, a tale about a devil
that drank up all of the overflowing Tso Kar; the Changpas and their livestock -
sheep, pashmina wool, yak; brown-headed gulls, the adorable Himalayan Marmots,
bar-headed geese (this being the only breeding site for the bar-headed geese in
India); black-necked cranes, the kiang (Tibetan wild ass), Tibetan argali, blue
sheep, snow leopard, Tibetan wolf and lynx, besides 150 bird species. And much
more.

[Is Prajnaparamita
a variant of Devi Sarasvati - the deity/devi/goddess of wisdom, intelligence
and knowledge? 'Coz modern Burma (also: Burmah, now Myanmar) was actually Brahma
Desha or the
'Land of Brahma'. And Shri Brahma is associated with Devi
Saraswati. Brhmaloka (very likely) was the abode of the most
learned person of the time, referred to as Shri Brhma (also: Brahma). Perhaps: Brhmaloka and Brahma Desha were one and the same.

As for the bar-headed geese, Hamsa = a bird. Either the white swan or the
bar-headed white goose. The
white swan is called Raja-Hamsa, literally: the royal swan. The white swan is a 'vaahan' or 'vehicle' of
Devi Sarasvati - the goddess (or symbol) of learning, knowledge
and wisdom. It is also associated with Brahma - the creator god as well as the name of the
cosmic force (or energy) that sustains and supports creation (and stands for Buddhi
+ the creative and discretionary energies in humans). The Hamsa, therefore, can be a reference to the white swan and/or the bar-headed white goose. There is a raaga as well, the very auspicious Raaga Hamsadhwani.

Buddhi = wisdom + knowledge. Buddha = an enlightened person. Prince Siddhartha, son of King Śuddhodana of the Śākya clan, is best known as: the 'Sage-Prince' Bhagavan Shri Gautam Buddh. He is also referred to as: Śākyamuni. (Muni = an enlightened person).He hailed from the Kshatriya Suryavanshi (Sun-worshiping/Sun-flag-bearing) Śākya clan, that would (very likely) come under the Puruvansh or the Puru clan.

As for manis
or large prayer wheels, their name is derived from the
Sanskrit word for "wheel" or "turning" - chakra. Chakras
are centers of Prāṇa, life force, or vital energy. Chakras correspond to
vital points in the physical body i.e. major plexuses of arteries, veins and
nerves. The 7 Chakras are the energy centers in our body in which energy flows
through.]

There's a bit about a wizened old man picking apricots,
separating fresh fruit from spoilt - perfectly still but for his slow, precise
hand movements. Who was he? The author notes his fair complexion and features,
and then mentions he was a Brokpa (or Drokpa), member of a pure Aryan race, and
that the original Brokpas came with the invading Greek armies of Alexander, then
embraced Buddhism... but retained their socio-cultural values.

[However,
'Aryan' is not a race, Aryan means noble-natured. People who adhered to a noble
set of principles or followed a noble 'way of life' were known as: 'Arya' or 'Aryan'. And
this has nothing to do with language or physical characteristics. The Greeks
were Yavana (somewhat civilized people who also
indulged in un-Arya-like activities; meaning: despite possessing a high
culture, these people also indulged in barbaric behaviour like: slave-taking
and plundering, they misbehaved with the womenfolk, etc). The Greeks were
clearly not Aryan.
Therefore, the Brokpa (or Drokpa) are very much part of this land. Are they
too modern-day descendants of the ancient 'lion people': the Kimpurusha,
the Kirata or the Kinnara? My guess is as good as yours.]

There's
Lamayuru Gompa that stands majestically amidst green fields, mud-houses and lofty
peaks. Lamayuru's actual name is Yun- Drung ('swastika') - it is a gompa named
after swastika-shaped barley plants.

There is
mention of two great snakes, Nanda and Taksako at Likir Gompa. [Clearly much myth
has seeped in and altered the narrative. Taksako probably is a reference to the
great Nag King Takshak. Maybe, this too was a hereditary title assumed by one
of the 8 great Nag kings. The Nag were a clan of people that worshipped the serpents and/or displayed a serpent totem.]

Apparently,
some years ago, ancient Buddhist texts engraved in gold, silver and copper... could
be found lying about uncared for. They were finally catalogued in 1997. However,
by then nearly a quarter of the 108 volumes of Kangyur texts were lost and 2000
pages were missing from the rest. What a loss! A significant chunk of our
history and culture obliterated - forever. Apparently, gold, silver, copper,
turquoise and other gems were crushed and turned into ink to write the
scriptures. Amazing, indeed.

There's a
massive piece of rock engraved with images from ancient daily life - hunting
men on the prowl, hunted beasts on the run; images of ibex hunters with bows
and arrows and animals resembling wolves and the ibex, buffalo hunts and group
dances. The perplexing bit is that except for this one rock, there is no other ancient
rock art for miles around. Umm, why was this particular rock chosen then? Were there
others too? Have the elements and/or the mists of time claimed them?

The
answer is... we don't know. We can only speculate.

There's
even a sanctuary for donkeys, where abandoned donkeys that cannot work any more
due to old age or disability are well cared for; they now spend their time playing
pranks on visitors! There's also the enigmatic Magnetic Hill - where you can
turn off your car engine and leave it in neutral... (and lo!) your car starts
moving on its own at 10-20 km per hour - uphill and downhill. What happens to
the law of conservation of energy (?) - asks the author.

Don't think he has received a response - yet.

And yes,
one gets to read about the Druk Lotus School in Shey's Naropa Palace complex
(where 50 nuns/chotoks or dharma sisters live in and manage the palace +
conduct prayers. Lord Naropa was a great scholar and chancellor of Nalanda
University). Established by the Drukpa lineage in 2001 this unique school
teaches how to succeed in the modern world but not at the expense of one's
traditions and rooting. It's a school where one learns to cherish one's
environment, where teachers are still true to their calling.

We sure
need more schools like this... and teachers too.

Ladakh has several cafes including Book Café that offers filter
coffee, and Desert Rain that also offers sumptuous cakes and pancakes to go
with it. Besides milkshakes, sandwiches, pizzas and the ubiquitous Meggi
noodles (actually Maggi instant noodles). They screen films on Saturdays and
offer a great collection of books to browse. No one asks you to leave. No one
minds if you sit around or even sleep off for hours.

This
surely is Heaven, no?

And
imagine having Meggi noodles, honey butter cake and piping hot filter coffee when
it is really cold.

That's
three inches above Heaven, right!

Postcards
from Ladakh also contain interesting tidbits like: Why not to get stranded on
higher ground? Have you packed right? How to conduct yourself in a monastery? And
what one can do to not disturb the ecosystem. Nothing requiring huffing and
puffing though, just little things - that indeed go a long way. 'Just because
someone gets away with doing something wrong shouldn't mean you do it too' -
says the author. Agree.

Ajay also shares his little chitchat-cum-unexpected
opportunity to interview His Holiness the Twelfth Gyalwang Drukpa - the head of
the 800-year-old Drukpa lineage. His Holiness' words are simple yet profound,
and makes one to reflect. He says they (him and the author) were Karma-bound to
connect.

Verdict:Grab this little book and read
all you can, and while you are at it, don't forget to linger over the pics.

There are
a few editing errors though, but what is a postcard or a bunch of postcards
without a few errors? The author uses simple everyday language, which suits the
book and the region. It feels"real". And it's something an average
Indian traveler would connect with and be comfortable with.

The only
thing that's missing is a glossary of terms... so that readers can understand the
meaning of various Ladakhi names, terms and Buddhist references.

About Kunzum Café: In 2007, Ajay started Kunzum.com,
a travel Website, named after a pass in the Lahaul-Spiti valley in HP. It was
here, at 15,000 feet, atop Kunzum La... that Ajay got his inspiration to become a
travel writer.

"The site carries
write-ups on destinations, photographs, book reviews, hotel listings,
etc," says Jain. In fact, he publishes an online travel magazine by the
same name. Besides his Web ventures, he kept honing his skills in photography.
In early 2008, a series of his photographs was exhibited at the India Habitat
Centre and received appreciation. This got Ajay thinking about the need for a
permanent place to showcase his photographs and build a more complete brand
that catered to all aspects of traveling.

And so, in October 2009,
Kunzum Café was born.

The café is a place where tourists can swap travel
stories, inquire about the best places to stay, get sightseeing tips, and so on.
And all this happens over a cup of coffee and cookies, for which guests can pay as
much as they like!

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Author's Note:Please visit -The 'Real' Ramayana/ Ram-Rajya- to read the other
parts of this series, so as to be able to fully understand or grasp the contents
of this one.

Thoughts on: the colour green (Hari-Hara/Prakriti); red (Lohith or Rohitah); Neelamber, Neelesh, 'dark' (Ghanshyam) and the peacock allegory;
Shri Krishna and some verses from the Srimad Bhagavad Geeta. Notes on: dark blue (Shyam); vigjnana; Kara-puṣkara or lotus-palm; Mahiruha and Mahidhara;Samudra
manthanam,Sagar manthan,Kshirsagar manthan and Halahala; Brahma's Days (Kalpas); Brahma's
Years; Brahma's Life span; Maha Yugas and Manvantaras; Overview of the Yugas,
our position as of 2008 A.D. and the beginning of the current Kali Yug. *Continuing* with our *discussions* on the "Ardhanarishvara".

Vidya:true knowledge, wisdom,
enlightenment; vinaya: humility; sampanne: bestowed with, blessed
with; brahmane: in the Brahmana/ the Supreme Being (Parameshwar) or the
Supreme Spirit (Paramaatma); gavi: in the cow; hastini: in the
female elephant; suni: in the dog; ca: and; eva:
certainly; sva-pake: in the dog-eater (Mlechcha); ca:
respectively; panditah:a truly enlightened or wise person; sama-darsinah:do see with equal vision, consider as equal, does not differentiate.

Translation:

One who is blessed with
wisdom and humility (i.e. one who is truly wise, enlightened) see the divine -
the Brhamana (variously known as: the Cosmic Energy, the Supreme Being -Parameshwar, the Supreme Spirit - Paramaatma, the Ultimate Being, the
Ultimate Knowledge or the Ultimate Reality) - in the cow, in the female
elephant, in the dog... as well as in the dog-eater (Mlechcha). The wise one sees all beings as equal.

[Note:"the dog-eater" is sometimes mistranslated as 'outcaste'. But in Dvapar (during
Shri Krishna's time) there was no concept of 'caste'... and hence, there was no
such thing as 'outcaste' either. "Dog-eater" refers to Mlechcha, those
who are somewhat barbaric and uncultured in nature as well as intemperate in their eating habits.

However, one must
understand what Shri Krishna meant by "barbaric and uncultured". This is
different from Pisacha. Shri Krishna indicates Mlechcha; he does
not mean Pisacha. The ones that indulged in heinous acts including the lowest
form of union, by rape (i.e. a forced union), were the most barbaric of
all beings and were associated with the Pisacha. [Refer: Part-XX. In fact, Duryodhan and Dushshasana too displayed paishachic tendencies: Part-XV.]
Misbehaviour against women was considered as the lowest of the lowest of paap
(terrible sin) that one could ever commit. [Refer: Part-XVIII.]
These Pisachas are condemned to the most despicable/lowliest
place of all - whichwe will talk about when we discuss the
Lower Planets.

As
to: Why the cow is worshiped, do read: Part-XIII.
For elephant and what Sri Ganesh represents, do read: Part-XI.
For the truly wise or enlightened see "jeevan mukta" - Part-XVII.]

Shri Bhagavan says, there is nothing that is
"evil" in this world (Bhuvan), in nature (Prakriti), in our universe
(Brhmaand) or in creation (Srristi, cosmos). And this is commensurate with the
wisdom of our ancients... as per the philosophies of the "Sanaatan
Dharma" or "the eternal way of life" - rooted in Vedic wisdom. [Sanaatan = timeless or
eternal, Dharma = path or the
'way of life'. For Sanaatan Dhama and Vedic, do read: Part-XI.]

Therefore, even when the miscreants (duskrtam/negative/aasuric
forces or entities) are dealt with (by some or the other great human), it is not punishment, but an opportunity for redemption - provided to these aasuric
entities by these great humans.

Both 'Sur'/'Sura' (i.e. positive forces
or entities) and 'Asur'/'Asura' (negative forces or entities) are
required for creation, and they are present everywhere: in the cosmos, in our
universe and in this world; they are present within us (as traits), within society
and within civilization as well - so as to sustain it, or rather, so as to maintainthebalance. Else it will result in stagnation.

Imbalance is also part of nature. ['Vikriti' is also part of 'Prakriti'.]

It is only when the 'balancing factors' reach an
alarming stage that civilization is threatened and cannot progress well. Meaning:
only when there is great imbalance, there is cause for alarm. However:
the complete absence of 'balancing factors' will result in civilization itself
stagnating!]

The above verse contains such noble thoughts, right?!
So befitting of Krishna - the Delight of Yashoda; the Pride of Dvarka;
Bliss of the Bharatas; Friend and well-wisherof the Marginalized and the
Disadvantaged; Friend to the Good-hearted (dharmic); Foe to the Malicious
(adharmic) and perhaps most humanly, Soldier-Statesman par excellence.
[For Soldier-Statesman par excellence, do read: Part:
XXII.]

It is a small wonder then
that the Srimad Bhagavad Geeta is a treasure-trove of immense
wisdom and illumined knowledge... and is therefore, regarded as the jewel
of ancient India's spiritual wisdom, one that is not constrained by time and
space. And this is because of Karm Yog. One rarely
finds books (including spiritual texts and discourses by various Gurus) laying
emphasis on doing one's duty (i.e. upholding one's dharma) - irrespective of
the outcome.

|| karmaNi eva
adhikaaraste maa phaleshu kadaachana

maa karma phala
hetuH bhuH maa sanghaH astu akarmaNi ||

[To know
the meaning of the above verse, do read:Part:
XII.In other words, Shri Bhagavan says: remember, the journey is more important than the destination... just as our business is with the action (karm) only,
never with its fruits (result, outcome). Note: The verse [Chapter 5, Text 18] is best understood in light of what we have discussed in Part:
XII.]

But have we really understood the essence of Shri Bhagavan's
message? What say you? And he wasn't even saying anything new, merely
distilling the wisdom of our ancients (as manifested in the Sanaatan Dharma).

Our ancients left us many
gifts, we - the moderns, have squandered almost all of them, thanks to our
arrogance and petty-mindedness. While our forefathers revered and preserved
nature (Prakriti) in all her beauty and glory, and made heressential part of
their being, we - their so-called descendents have excelled in destroying nature,
thanks to our relentless greed. Our ancients gave us many lessons: not to
destroy, over-exploit or denude nature's gifts to mankind. We have done - for
several generations now - the complete opposite. We must reflect on our actions
and try to make amends - collectively. Or else, we shall all perish. Together.

Yet unfortunately: Our
environment is being ravaged, our mountains are being desecrated, our hills are
being razed to the ground, our trees (Mahiruhas) are being indiscriminately massacred, our
birds and animals are struggling to survive, our water-bodies are being
polluted beyond recognition: faecal matter, factory effluents and even nuclear
waste are dumped into them; civilizations are being decimated and there is a
competition to grab the resources of the world. No tactics is considered too
low - in order to achieve this. Nations and people are being torn apart: in the
name of 'faith', 'charity', 'history', culture, language, 'friendship',
'research', media, commerce, sports and what have you. But with what result?

"Trees are the earth's endless
effort to speak to the listening heaven," so said Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore.

"Trees are poems that earth writes
upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record
our emptiness," said Kahlil Gibran.

But then, Robi Thakur and Kahli Gibran may speak all they want about trees and Prakriti, we
are super-gods, right?! :)

In Part-XXI
we discussed the concept of "Ardhanarishvara" in some detail. Let's continue from where we left off.

In this syncretic form,
Shiv is also representing/personifying humanity (manav-jaati), while
Parvati/DeviDurga represents/personifies Prakriti (Mother Nature).

[As per
our ancients and as per the philosophies of the Sanaatan Dharma, humanity is He/masculine, while
nature/Prakriti is She/feminine.]

Humanity (manav-jaati)
needs and will always need Prakriti (Mother Nature) - in order to survive. She/Nature/Prakriti does not need Him/ Humanity.

Unfortunately, we - the
modern humans - have forgotten this valuable lesson, and are bent on
'conquering'/'subjugating' nature. But will that ever happen? What will be the
outcome?

Hence: It is best to
learn or rather re-learn the lessons and imbibe the wisdom of our
ancients. [We should not follow in the footsteps of the Mlechchas who regard
Prakriti as inanimate... and are bent on exploiting (read: plundering) her
riches. Remember: Sanaatan Dharma did not regard Prakriti as inanimate, hence the imagery of Parvati/Devi Durga.]

Prakriti is draped in
green. [Therefore, the colour green/Hari also symbolizes Parvati/Devi Durga.] Vishnu and
Shiv - the other cosmic forces/energies are also known as Hari
and Hara respectively, and as Hari-Hara in their syncretic form.
Hari and Hara, means green and green is the colour draped by Prakriti -
during the day.

Dark, dark blue
(Ghanshyam, Shyam), green (Hari-Hara), red (Lohith or Rohitah) and golden yellow (peet) are the colours of the universe,
cosmos and Prakriti; rather they signify creation per se. Our ancients'
understood this and revered nature. They also worshiped the water-bodies:the
oceans (samudra), the rivers (nad and nadi) and the lakes (sarovara). They worshipped the Mahidharas (the mighty mountains) too. Mahidhara etymologically
means: the one who holds the earth or the one who sustains the earth. Our
ancients respected the mountains, the mahidharas, as the sustainers of
the earth. So great has been our reverence for the Himalaya that in the
Sanaatan Dharma (rooted in Vedic wisdom), it is not just a chain of mountains,
He is divine. Himalaya is not only the 'father' of Devi Parvati, but is also
the 'father' of the sacred Ganga, Yamuna and the Sarasvati. This reverence for
the mightiest mountain-range is due to the acknowledgement of the central role He has
played in preserving and sustaining our glorious mother-land.

But what have we been
doing?

It is important
that we become aware that the mountains play the singularly most important role
in sustaining the environment in the Indian sub-continent. And we must
also realize the importance of regenerating the mountains in order to revive
the environment. [Do also read: Part-XXI.]

Dark, dark blue
(Ghanshyam, Shyam), green (Hari-Hara/Prakriti), golden yellow (Peet) and red (Lohith or Rohitah): the peacock best sums up these
colours. And isn't it an amazingly creative way to sum up nature (Prakriti),
cosmos (Srishti) and our universe (Brhmaand)? Only our ancestors... enriched as
they were with vigjnana (illumined knowledge/jnana + spirituality
+ philosophy) could think of this.

Dark or dark-blue is all
pervading, is omnipresent, is everywhere. Yet it is maya, illusion, and
is a manifestation of the deep, unfathomable aspect of Prakriti (nature) and
Srishti (creation/cosmos). And no matter how much we endeavour to unravel all
the mysteries of nature and/or the cosmos, some aspect(s) of her will continue to elude
us - as maya ('illusion'). This is (also) symbolized by dark or
dark blue.

... Hence, we must
understand and accept this, and bow to Prakriti.

[Dark-blue is Shyam;
the colour of dusk - the colour Prakriti wears after sunset and during the predawn hours. Dark is Ghanshyam,
the colour of Prakriti - at night. Red is the colour of Prakriti during pre-dusk and early morning. Rohit or Rohitah signifies the colour red, it means the "First rays of the sun". The early morning sunlight usually has a lot of reddish tint. Lohith also refers to the colour 'red'. It indicates the power of Devi Durga/Parvati. Lohitagni is red flame (to symbolically sacrifice/burn one's negative traits). Hari (green) is the colour that
Prakriti drapes - during the day. As for dark or Ghanshyam, we'll discuss thatin greater
detail - in our later posts.]

Bhagavan Shri Krishna is also Shyam,
Ghanshyam, Peetamber... and Hari - since he is revered as the human manifestation
(sagun swaroop) of Vishnu - the balancing or preserving force behind the
cosmos. This is the measure of Shri Krishna's karm - nishkam karm... as
well as his stature, his magnificence, his grandeur and his immeasurable
greatness. Rohit is also one of Shri Vishnu's many names.

[As for the colour red/Lohith or Rohitah: Krishna is also compared to Maa Parvati/Durga/Shakti -
due to the grandeur of his Karm and Nishkam Karm. Maa Shakti - the divine mother and her human 'manifestation' - Devi
Durga - has 108 names, one of which is 'Padmapatrakshi' or 'eyes like
the lotus leaf'.
Shri Krishna too is the possessor of 108 names and is known as the
'lotus-eyed-one' (with eyes as broad as the petals of the blue lotus).
The dark-blue complexion of Krishna is compared to that of
the Neel-kamal - the Blue Water-lily (Utpala) or the Blue Lotus
(Pushkara or Indivara). Hence, this flower is also called: 'Krishna Kamal'. Devi
Durga, the human 'manifestation' or the sagun swaroop of the divine
cosmic feminine energy (Shakti) - is worshiped with 108 'Neel-Kamal' or Blue
Lotuses. Do read Part-XIII - to know more about the Blue Lotus and the Blue
Water-Lily.

Human
manifestation or sagun swaroop is not literal. It essentially means that
through him we can "see" the balancing or preserving force/energy
behind the cosmos: Vishnu. And this is because of the greatness of Krishna's
Karm - that helped preserve the noble principles of Sanaatan Dharma, restored
balance in society and prevented its degradation/decadence + stopped the
disintegration/demise of civilization.]

BTW, though we mentioned
earlier that green/Hari is one of the colours of Prakriti (nature) and is to be found
everywhere, yet given our relentless 'efforts', perhaps it is not, what say?

As for dark blue or Shyam: The dew-covered grass,
the predawn hours, the mist-covered hills and the cloud-kissed forests seem dark
blue. The pristine snow on the mountains, the Pārijāt, the Banyan tree
(Sanskrit: Vata vrksha), the Peepal tree (Sanskrit: Ashvatha), the Tulsi
(Sanskrit: Tulasī), the Aparaajita, the Palash, the Atasi, the Akund (Sanskrit:
Arca), the Ashok, the Bel (Sanskrit: Bilwa), the Champak (Sanskrit: Campaka),
the Yuthika (Juhī), the Kadamba vana (the Kadam forest), the Japāa kusuma
(Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), the Bakulah (Maulsari), the Karnikār (karnayoh karnikāram, Kanak Champā), the
Tamāl (Tamala, Himalayan Garcinia), the Mālatī, the Punnāg (Punnaga, Sultan Champa), the Mādhavī
(Atimukta, meaning: completely liberated), the Kovidār (Kovidara, Purple orchid
tree), the Ketakī (Kewdā), the Pātal (Paral), the Gunjā (Gunjaa, Gunj), the
Kund (Kundo, Star jasmine), the
Bandhook (Midday Flower) - all appear
to be darkblue, draped in the morning mist or in the evening twilight. Even
the elegant deodars (Sanskrit: devadāru) have dark bluish-green leaves.

So, Shyam is indeed Sundar, no? And Krishna is Shyamsundar :)

Here is Robi Thakur's ode
to the Shyamalo-Sundaro - Esho Shyamolo-Sundaro - based on raaga Desh and
rendered by Srikanto Acharjo:

The new moon (also
referred to as Neelesh) appears to be dark or deep blue in colour.
'Neelesh' means 'god of the blue sky' and refers to the moon. Dark blue skies
and a glowing moon exude peace and serenity. Shri Krishna is much admired for
his radiance, calm and serene disposition even in the face of adversity. He is
without ego (ahamkara). [Shri Ram
(also: Ramchandra) comes from the Sanskrit Rāma, which means: black,
dark; Chandra means: moon (in Sanskrit). Therefore: Ramchandra means:
the Rāmamoon. It can also mean: as gentle as the moon (which distills
the brilliant rays of the Sun).]

The planet that we inhabit - Mother Earth,has several Sanskrit names - given to her by our ancients. One of these
names is: Go-loka. This is because: the earth is round in shape. But
'Go' also means: cow.

Go-loka is interpreted as Shri Krishna's
abode in the spiritual sky (Goloka-Paravyoma). Methinks: it perhaps refers to
the entire cosmos. Mother Earth (Prithvi-Loka or Bhu-Loka)
appears as 'Krishna-loka' i.e. dark or dark blue in colour - in and from space
(Vyoma).

[Shri Krishna is also known as 'Hrishikesa'
and 'Gopala', meaning: 'Master of the senses'; since He had not only gained
mastery over his own senses (indriyas), but also over those of others.
Refer: Part:XXII. Krishna is also a teacher and guide (Gopala) to his flock.
Here:Go = humanity; pala = guide, master, caretaker.

Gopala
= Go + pala; Go = cow.]

Therefore, dark or dark blue is all pervading,
is omnipresent, is everywhere. Yet it is maya, illusion - transient,
ephemeral - and is a manifestation of the deep, unfathomable aspect of Prakriti
(nature) and Srishti (creation/cosmos).

'Neel' means blue and 'amber' means sky,
therefore'Neelamber' means 'the blue sky'. 'Neelesh' means 'the
Blue God', and is one of the many names of Shri Vishnu - "The Balancer" or
"The Preserver." This name is a combination (sandhi) of two words:
Neel (Blue) and Ish (Master, Lord or God). Ish or Esh is also a
Sanskrit word for head. Hence, this name can also be interpreted as 'Blue Head,'
and is a reference to Shri Vishnu as well. Shri Vishnu too is often described
as the 'Lotus-Eyed One'. [See Part:
XXII - to know the meaning of 'lotus-eyed'.] 'Neelesh' also means 'the destroyer of adharm'.
Shri Krishna is a friend to the wise and the good-hearted (the dharmic),
a foe to the wicked and the malicious (the adharmic); he fought the
latter in order to restore balance in society. He is therefore considered as a
manifestation (avatar) of Shri Vishnu - "The Preserver" or "The
Balancer" - i.e. the preserving or the balancing force/energy behind the
cosmos. [There is yet another Shri Vishnu - the one who resides in the other Vishnu-Loka, also known as Vaikunth. We will discuss Him later.]

Krishna also means 'dark' (Ghanshyam). Krishna's grayish
to dusky-blue complexion is similar to the colour of a newborn's skin
immediately after birth. However, the word 'Krishna' (dark, Ghanshyam) has yet another meaning,
that of the all-absorbing one.

During his lifetime, (it
is said) he was the target of malicious attacks. Accusations, abuse and
insults were hurled at him; several small-minded people orchestrated these. But Krishna never stooped low nor responded back in kind. He simply absorbed
them all - with his characteristic grace, and hence is also known as Ghanshyam - the
all-absorbing one.

He is a "Neelkanth"
remember? He absorbs poison (negativities, profanities, etc) and brings down adharm
- through his Karm Yog. He does not sow them. [Do also read: Part-XIII,
Part-XXand Part:
XXII.

For "Neelkanth", do read Part-XVII. The
palms of such great humans remain: kara-puṣkara or lotus-palm, in a manner
of speaking, that is.

While their feet remain 'lotus feet'. This is because: A
lotus grows in muddy water yet remains untouched by it. Similarly: These
greats 'absorbed' several poisonous/negative aspects of society - due to their
Karm Yog, thereby cleansing society of various ills + bringing down the
negative content. Whatever they did was for the greater good - Loka-sangraha or Loka-Kalyana.]

As for the peacock allegory: The Hindi word for peacock is Mor while the Sanskrit word is Mayur. The peacock is a regal bird, royal
blue in colour, interspersed with black, peet, red and a brilliant green; it is graceful
and a sight to behold. It is a bird that dances when dark clouds gather in the
sky... signaling the arrival of the rains. [In short: the peacock is Manmohan. It
mesmerizes. Just like Krishna, who too possessed a
magnetic personality and an enchanting smile... and who played the flute, the
notes of which filled others with joy. Refer: Part:
XXII.]

The peacock is a bird that eats reptiles, and therefore
helps humans, cattle and other animals - especially during the rainy season.
[Sort of the "Neelkanth" imagery.] The peacock is a king among birds, has a
regal bearing and is the vaahan (vehicle, transport) of Shri Kartik (the Devasenapati or the commander-in-chief of the Deva army and the son of
Shiv-Parvati). It is also the 'vaahan' of Skandah - Shiv-Parvati's grandson. [Do read: Part:
XXII- for more info on Kartik and Skandah.]

Krishna's head is
bedecked with peacock feathers. He is also known as Mayur - due to his
magnetic personality, handsome appearance, grace and splendor.

Krishna, as we know,
plays the flute, but:

"When
there are clouds of hypocrisy and when the sins turn into a storm, then my
melodious flute takes the form of a small spear."

The name 'Neelesh' is also used to refer to
Shiv, who too is known as "The Destroyer of Adharm." Shiva is
said to have "drank"/"held in his throat" the lethal poison (Halahala) generated
due to the 'churning of the ocean' (samudra-manthan) - resulting in his
throat turning blue in colour. And hence, he is also known as "Neelkanth" - the blue-throated one. [Neela = blue, kantha = throat in Sanskrit.]

There are three dimensions
to Samurdra manthanam or Sagar manthan. And two dimensions to Kshirsagar
manthan:

The three dimensions to Samurdra manthanam
or Sagar manthan are as follows:

The celestial 'churning' of the Andromeda
(Constellation) resulting
first in the 'birth' of the Andromeda Galaxy and other binary stars, then in the 'birth' of the 'Akash Ganga' (the Milky Way), followed bythe 'birth' of our Solar System, besides other planets and stars,
gas and dust, et al. [BTW, it could even be the 'churning' of the Orion Constellation resulting in the 'birth' of the Andromeda and so on.]

[Remember: the cosmos is constantly increasing in size - thanks to the efforts of Shri Brahma (who we have sort of discussed... later in this post). But at the time of the first "samudra-manthan" (the 'churning' of the Andromeda Constellation or (maybe) the Orion Constellation), the cosmos was far more compact than what we find today.

This
phenomenon (the 'churning' of the Andromeda Constellation or the Orion Constellation) can be referred to as Samurdra manthanam or Sagar manthan, as well as
Kshirsagar manthan. In fact, this (probably) is one aspect/part of Kshirsagar manthan.]

The
Earth - at some point in time - was completely covered with water (due to the melting of gigantic chunks of ice perhaps). The turbulent
waters: due to strong currents + underwater rocks, etc - gave the
impression of a bubbly, or aerated and unstable current - due to vast
amounts of air bubbles mixing in it. All of these culminated in frothy waters...
that appeared white; and hence the metaphor of "milk"/Kshir.

(Hence, this too can be referred to as Samurdra
manthanam or Sagar manthan, as well as Kshirsagar manthan. And it is (perhaps) the other aspect/part
of Kshirsagar manthan - one that happened much later than the 'churning' of the Andromeda Constellation and/or the Orion Constellation.)

The Mount Mandarachala, also
known as Mount Meru - that was used as the churning rod is NOT a reference
to any mountain, but instead is an allegory for
the Earth's Axisof Rotation.

In literal terms, this tale (samudra-manthan
or sagar-manthan) is an allegorical description of what transpires during
a kundalini awakening process. Kundalini is a latent energy that lays
dormant in the spine. Upon awakening, it rises in a sensation akin to a
slithering reptile, up the spinal column (Meru-danda, also represented
by Mount Meru in the story).

[Sanskrit: kund
- "to burn"; kunda - "to coil or to spiral".
Kundalini = a concentrated field of intelligent, cosmic, invisible energy
absolutely vital to life; beginning in the base of the spine when a man or
woman begins to evolve as wisdom is earned. Kundalini has been described as
liquid fire and liquid light. The ultimate outcome of kundalini is the union
of Will (sakti- kundalini),Knowledge (prana-kundalini)and
Action (para- kundalini).]

However, there can (perhaps) be a fourth dimension to samudra-manthan or sagar-manthan as well: it can also refer to the (constant) tug-of-warhappening within a person - in one's mind and heart, and in society - between negative (aasuric) and positive (daaivic) thoughts, feelings, forces and entities. This samudra-manthan or sagar-manthan (in our minds and hearts and in society) gives rise to new discoveries, thoughts, philosophies, literature, culture et al.

We will discuss Samudra manthanam/Sagar manthan/Kshirsagar manthan in
greater detail in our next post.

In
"Sri
Yogavasishtam", while talking to
Shri Ram, Maharshi Vashisht tells him what Yogi Bhusunda once
shared with him:

"I remember that once upon a time there was
nothing on this earth, neither trees and plants, nor even mountains. For a
period of eleven thousand years the earth was covered by lava. In those days
there was neither day nor night below the polar region: for in the rest of the
earth neither the sun nor the moon shone. Only one half of the polar region was
illumined. Apart from the polar region the rest of the earth was covered with
water. And then for a very long time the whole earth was covered with forests,
except the polar region. Then there arose great mountains, but without any
human inhabitants. For a period of ten thousand years the earth was covered
with the corpses of the asuras who roamed the world."

[Now, whether this
period of eleven thousand years and ten
thousand years is based on how we calculate in
modern times - my guess is as good as yours. Meaning: whether this was in
Brahma Years, Deva Years or Human Years - my guess is as good as yours.]

According to our ancient sastras, the life span of
Brahma is 100 Brahma years, or 72,000 kalpas, or 311.04 trillion human years
(311,040,000,000,000 or 311.04E12 human years).

The Brahma is 50 Brahma years old now. [This is the Shri/Lord Brhma of the other Brahma-Loka, also known as Satya-Loka, elsewhere in
the cosmos. It is the highest
planet in the Material Realm and is the abode of Lord Brahma and his
consort Sarasvati. This Loka (Brahma-Loka
or Satya-Loka) is the
highest amongst the Urdhva-Loka orthe Higher Planets. Above this
(beginning at 26,200,000 yojanas aboveSatyaloka) is the other Vishnu-Loka, also known as Vaikunth. Vaikunth represents the eternal planets peopled by
highly advanced spiritual beings. They are way advanced in every way, including technologically and spiritually, than us.

The Brahma-Loka and Vishnu-Loka - on earth (in the current four-yug cycle) - we have discussed in Part-XXI. Our universe or Brahmaand (the one we
inhabit) is different from the Lord Brahma we are talking about now. Our
Brahmaand is just a part of the cosmos - within a larger Multiverse or Superverse.]

Lord Brahma is 155,521,972,949,110 human Years old now!! [He does not have four heads though, that is allegorical - to indicate his wisdom + to depict that he is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient.]

1.Brahma's Days (Kalpas):

A kalpa is a single day time period in the life of Brahma, the creator god/Deva. Two
kalpas are a day and a night of Brahma.

Each kalpa is composed of 1,000 maha yugas. A kalpa is thus equal to 4.32
billion human years.

The smallest cycle is called a maha yuga. A maha yuga
is 4,320,000 human years. Each maha yuga is subdivided into the following four
ages, whose lengths follow a ratio of 4:3:2:1.

Satya or Krita Yuga: 1,728,000 year.

Treta Yuga: 1,296,000 years.

Dvapar Yuga: 864,000 years [Bronze Age]

Kali Yuga: 432,000 years [Iron Age]

Total for Maha yuga = 4,320,000

Kalpa or day time of Brahma = 1000 X 4,320,000

That is the total Time for One Cycle or Manvantara: 4,320,000,000 years

This is called "A Day of Brahma" and is followed by a night of equal
length.

One complete day and night of Brahma: 8,640,000,000 years

2.Brahma's Years:

A year of Brahma is composed of 360 day/night cycles of Brahma, or 720 kalpas,
or (8.64 billion X 360) human years.

Thus 360 of these days is called "One Year of Brahma":
3,110,400,000,000 years.

3.Brahma's Life span:

The life span of Brahma is 100 Brahma years, or 72,000 kalpas, or 311.04
trillion human years.

Thus 100 of these years constitute the life of Brahma called a Maha Kalpa:
311,040,000,000,000 years or 311.04 trillion human years.

[At the end of the life-span of (each) Brahma, all the worlds
(excluding Vaikunth, but including Brahmaloka/Satyaloka and the other Shiv-Loka/Kailash + the Devi-dham) are completely dissolved (maha-pralaya) - resulting in the
balancing/preserving Cosmic Energy (also) known as Vishnu to go into the (metaphoric) 'big sleep'
(ghum/maha-nidra). This Vishnu 'awakens' only after a NEW Shri/Lord Brahma appears/is created (after a day and a night of Brahma has elapsed or in other words: after 2 kalpas) - in order to take over the task of creation all over again. That is: to begin the cycle of creation all over again. This is the Ultimate Truth/Satya. Hence the first yug (of each maha yuga or a four-yug cycle) is also known as Sat/Satya Yug.]

4.Our position as of 2008 A.D.:

50 years of Brahma has elapsed and we are in the first Day of the 51st year.
That is: We are located in the fifty-first Brahma year of the life of our
Brahma. This Brahma's day, Kalpa, is named as SVHETAVARAHA Kalpa.Within this Day, six Manvantaras have already
elapsed and we are in the seventh Manvantara, named as: VAIVASVATHA Manvantara.

Within the Vaivasvatha Manavantara, 27 Mahayugas (4 Yugas together is a
Mahayuga), and the Satya/Krita, Treta and Dvapara Yugas of the 28th Mahayuga
have elapsed. Hence, we are in theKaliyuga of
the 28th Mahayuga. [This would place us at about the 454th maha yuga of the
1,000 maha yugas that comprise this day of Brahma.]

This Kaliyuga began in the year 3102 B.C. in the
proleptic Julian Calendar. Since 50 years of Brahma have already elapsed, we
are in the second Parardha, also known as DVITHIYA Parardha.

The time elapsed since the current Brahma has taken over the task of creation
can be calculated as:

Therefore, the time elapsed since current Brahma is:155.52 x 10E12 + 1,972,949,110 =
155,521,972,949,110 human years, or 155.521972949110 E12 human years.

Hence, Lord Brahma's current age of 50 Deva
Years (~155 Trillion Human Years) + Half a Day (~1.85 Billion Years)
amounts to the massive figure of 155.521852 Trillion Solar Years which would also be the Age of OUR
Universe (the current Brhmaand) approximately.The current Kali Yug began: at midnight of 18
February in 3102 BC in the proleptic Julian calendar.

This is because Bhagavan Shri Krishna departed on 18th February 3102 B.C. The
period after his departure marks the beginning of Kaliyug. [Krishna's departure should not be interpreted as 'death', 'coz he is a Chiranjeevi, he has Eternal Life; this was just the end of yet another eventful chapter. That's all. We will discuss Chiranjeevi in our later posts.]

Overview of the Yugas:

Satya Yug (Krita Yug): 1,728,000 Human years

Treta Yug: 1,296,000 Human years

Dvapar Yug: 864,000 Human years

Kali Yug: 432,000
Human years. 5,115 years have passed - as of 2013 A.D., in the current mahayuga/four-yug cycle; how many of the remaining 426,885 years are left - my guess is as good as yours. How many Satya/Krita, Treta or Dvapar Yugs are yet to come - my guess is as good as yours.Maybe: it all depends on our karm.So, the length of each yugs in a maha-yuga may not be uniform or may not remain the same - over all maha yugas. Who can say? The current Kaliyug though started in 3102 B.C.; CE 2013 corresponds to the 5,115th Year of the Era of Kaliyug - in the current mahayuga/four-yug cycle. [And perhaps: the key as to when this Kali Yug should begin
to wither away is in our hands - based on our actions, our Karm Yog. What say you? Kali = bud; the best era of all. And this was indeed a very good era... until the demise of the Gupta era.]

Now, do all these years in a Yug come all together?
The answer is no, they do not.

Instead: They are spread over multiple maha yugas (and each of these maha yugas have a four-yug cycle viz., Satya/Sat/Krita Yug, Treta Yug, Dvapar Yug and Kali Yug).

[50 years of Brahma has already elapsed and we are in the first Day of the 51st year.
That is: We are located in the fifty-first Brahma year of the life of our
Brahma.]

We are currently in the Kaliyug of the 28th Yug Cycle of the 51st Day of Brahma.
[Toward the end of a Kali Yug, various calamities cause a good deal of
destruction. Hence, it's something we will experience at the end of the current Kali Yug too.Given the cyclical nature of each maha-yug (a four-yug cycle: Sat/Satya, Treta,
Dvapar and Kali Yug) and its ratio of 4:3:2:1, it means: Kaliyug (the last yug
of each maha-yug) will be the shortest. Sat/Satya Yug will follow it. This
transition will be accompanied by some amount of natural calamity. But a major 'pralay' may not precede each Sat/Satya Yug. However: A
major 'pralay' will take place... after the completion of a few maha-yug.]

[Our ancient texts view history as cyclical in
character, with vast repeating series of ages. Each age has it's own specific
qualities.

The Puranas describe a number of cycles within
cycles. Discussions of these cycles can become confusing because different
cycles are measured in different types of units. For example, the cycles are
often described in units of Deva Years, each of which equals 360 Human Years.]

Manvantaras: Another cycle that overlaps the others is that of
manvantaras. Each kalpa is reigned over/overseen by a succession of 14 Manus, and the
reign of each Manu is called a manvantara. A single manvantara is approximately
71 maha yugas.

Coomaraswamy states: "Each Manvantara is followed
by a Deluge, which destroys the existing continents and swallows up all living
beings, except the few who are preserved for the re-peopling of the
earth."

Well, maybe there is large-scale destruction,
reconfiguration of the landmass even + huge tectonic shifts. Maybe... a lot of
species, flora and fauna are wiped out.

The ones who survive (people, flora and fauna - according to the Cosmic Plan?) board
some specially built ships (nao) and set-off for safer places or distant lands.
Some probably live in specially equipped caves or in settlements below the ground.
The ones who sail on the turbulent waters carry whatever provisions they can
(including water and medicines) with them. However, it is very likely that they
also carry large quantities of dietary supplement or Super Food such as
Spirulina - powder or capsule - with them. [Do they also carry cryogenically stored seeds, DNA samples,
donor eggs and sperms? Well, my guess is as good as yours.]

This journey towards the unknown... takes a lot of time
and effort; several of the ones on-board these specially built ships (nao) perish...
due to old age, health issues, etc. [Some probably are discarded - to ensure the longevity/sustainability of others (morehealthier ones?) and to maintain peace and harmony. The bodies and carcuses are thrown into the turbulent waters.] Maybe: 2 or 3 or even 4 generations are born in these
ships itself!

Finally some of these ships reach their destination (meaning: others lands, when the turbulence subsides or subsides sufficiently enough), while several others (ships/nao) perish. [Some of these nao/ships probably return to their earlier/original lands or whatever is left of them, that is - with the help of information/coordinates given to them by their elders - gathered from the first/original batch of humans on the nao/ships.]

The ones (humans, flora and fauna) that survive... begin life/civilization afresh - in distant, unknown
lands (as well as in the land of their forefathers/elders or whatever is left of it).

Also: Shiv is also known as Noukeshwar - the
Lord/Master of the Boats. [Nao or boats can also mean ships, is it not?]

So, are Noah and Noukeshwar one and the same? What do
you think?

Therefore, imagine the number of Shivs we have had!! No wonder there is so many stories (albeit in camouflaged language) associated with Him. And we'll get royally entangled in confusion if we think Shiv is one or
two persons. Only. These Shivs are not to be confused with the Shiv of Shiv-Sati or the Shiv of Shiv-Parvati or even the (namesake) Cosmic Energy associated with 'pralay'
or 'mahapralay' (cosmic turbulence) for that matter.

[Various human Shivs are associated with 'pralay' - times of great destruction, turbulence and flood. Hope we can now figure out why. :)]

Also: Raja
Yayati - we all are familiar with, but who was Jyapeti?

Brahma and Abraham?

What do you think??

Now ponder over "Manu". [We will of course discuss Manu -
in greater detail - later.]

[Do remember: Robindroshongeet is best enjoyed based on one's
mood and the time and type of day; such as: early mornings, lazy afternoons,
quiet evenings, rainy days, on days when there is a nip in the air, and moonlit nights - when sleep is elusive. The words are layered, yet have a lyrical and ethereal quality... that
needs no imagery; one automatically visualizes and feels them. But it's
very difficult, nay impossible to translate into any other language.]

[We will continue our discussions in the next post...]

(Do stay tuned…)

Pictures:Illustrations of:
Bhagavan Shri Krishna; what we have done to Prakriti; the Ardhanarishvara; the magnificent peacock and close-up of a peacock feather; the gentle moon in a dark sky; Shri Krishna; imagery for kara-puṣkara or lotus-palm and lotus feet; the peacock imagery; Neelkanth and Halahala; milky white waters; the samudra-manthan or sagar-manthan within ourselves and in society; the Shri/Lord Brhma of the other Brahma-Loka, also known as Satya-Loka; Shri Krishna departs (on 18th February 3102 BC); 'pralay' or 'mahapralaya' at the end of each kalpa; a specially built nao or ship... laden with some humans besides all kinds of flora and fauna setting off for safer places/distant lands - to begin life/civilization afresh.

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Bhagavad Gita Quote of the Day

Meaning: “Thy business is with the action only, never with its fruits; so let not the fruits of action be thy motive, nor be thou to inaction attached.” The Bhagavad Gita: Chapter II-47. In short: “Do your Duty and Leave the Rest to God.”

Food for thought:

"By plucking her petals, you do not gather the beauty of the flower." ("Kabiguru" Rabindranath Tagore)

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About Me

... Roshmi, the author of "Musings of an Unknown Indian", travels @ the speed of thought and has wandering feet too. She was mesmerized by the ruins of Hampi and the Badami Cave Temples. A green thumb, she does her bit for the environment. Her blog is an eclectic mix of tales, poly-tricks, history, art/culture, books, movies, Suppandi, Nasruddin Hodja, Chanakya, sports, micro-fiction, Swami Vivekananda, Tagore and his songs, the ragas, poetry, Omar Khayyám/Rubáiyát, and more. Much more! Posts that keep the gray cells from graying and tickle the funny bone too! :)

The Gayatri Mantra: The Greatest among all Mantras...

"Aum Bhoor Bhuwah Swaha, Tat Savitur Varenyam Bhargo Devasaya Dheemahi Dhiyo Yo Naha Prachodayat." Meaning: "O Lord, You are the protector of life and of breath, dispeller of miseries and bestower of happiness. You are the creator and the most acceptable intelligence, possessing eternal qualities. May Your qualities and Your inspiration pass to us."